EUROPEAN Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt has admit the European Union’s elected representatives are ready to veto the Brexit withdrawal agreement unless there is “100 percent assurance” of no hard border appearing on the island of Ireland.

The Irish border question has plagued Brexit negotiations with either side making substantial progress, with many EU leaders using the unresolved issue against the British negotiators.

Mr Verhofstadt was updating MEPs on the constitutional affairs committee on Brexit, when he once again affirmed Parliament would not give consent to any deal unless an answer is found to the Irish border question.

Last December, Brussels and Westminster agreed a deal to conclude Phase One of negotiations with Theresa May promising to avoid a hard border in Ireland.

A backstop has been included in the draft withdrawal bill by Brussels, which would mean Northern Ireland remains in the customs union after Brexit, if the Prime Minister fails to deliver on her promise.

European Parliament will not give our consent without a guarantee that there will be no hard border

Guy Verhofstadt

Mr Verhofstadt, chairman of the Brexit Steering Group, told MEPs: “We have made it clear from day one, perfectly clear, that the European Parliament will not give our consent without a guarantee, 100 percent assurance, that there will be no hard border.”

The former Belgian prime minister added: “There is a solution for Ireland because there is a backstop.

“The reason for the backstop is if there is no other satisfactory solution found with the UK or the UK doesn’t come forward with a common sense solution then we have Britain’s assurance the backstop will be put in place.

“That is an enormous step forward we have made in March compared to the situation in December.”

Theresa May sought to unite EU leaders in condemnation of Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy, but she faces resistance from states keen to protect their Kremlin ties

Home Office officials admit the smartphone application will only fully work on Android devices, while the department declared it only one of several methods for EU citizens to register their settled status in the UK.

Reacting, Mr Verhofstadt said Home Office officials are “working very hard on setting up a user friendly application system.

He and other MEPs will be writing a letter to UK authorities outlining a number of concerns and potential recommendations to resolve their criticisms.